National insurer AAMI has released its 16th Crash Index this week, and the results are in: we motorists are a surly, unrepentant bunch of road-ragers.

Surveying 3740 Australian motorists, the study saw half of the respondents admit to yelling and swearing at another driver for what they saw as rude or dangerous behaviour.

Of the 50 percent that admitted to verbally abusing another driver, 82 percent felt it was justified.

“When you cut someone off, it’s because you’re in a hurry; when someone cuts you off, it’s because they’re a jerk. Or worse," AAMI's Reuben Aitchison said.

“There’s this odd disconnect on our roads, in that if you ask people how they should respond to rude or aggressive driving behaviours, the vast majority (87 percent) say you should ignore the other driver or signal an apology. But when push comes to shove, we let rip."

The results also saw 38 percent of participants admit to delivering a "less than polite" gesture, with 81 percent of those feeling justified.

A worrying 18 percent also admitted to deliberately tailgating another motorist over a perceived slight, with 66 percent of those feeling justified.

Worse, 10 percent of respondents said they had been forced off the road by angry drivers, and two percent of those said they'd been physically assaulted.

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TMR Comments

Karl | 31 Jan 2012 05:46

Ã¢â‚¬Å“When you cut someone off, itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s because youÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re in a hurry; when someone cuts you off, itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s because theyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re a jerk".
So true. A bit of perspective people.

Veejay Karl | 31 Jan 2012 07:53

Amen. As much as I hate road-ragers, I've certainly been guilty of doling some of my own road-rage out on others.
I reckon we all need to take a chill pill.

Pil | 31 Jan 2012 06:14

I've seen and experienced road-ragers all too common. Recently I did a reverse park in a shopping center and the guy in the car behind was swearing his mouth and staring me off. I didn't take long either; funnily he was in line next to me at a bank and didn't say anything.
Just the other day a car wanting to turn right blocked a car behind from going forward. That person was cursing and honking like a tool.
I just learn to ignore them or other dangerous drivers.
I despise tailgaters the most, once I wasn't given way at a roundabout, the other car ended up behind me and tailgated me for 6km. I was taking long routes and such so I knew he was following me until I drove near the police station.

Balthazaaaaargh | 31 Jan 2012 08:11

Yeah... I'm more than a little guilty of many of these, I gotta admit
Never been violent though!!

Dave | 31 Jan 2012 22:50

Being stuck behind someone driving 20kph under the limit then speed up when the light turns yellow, I can handle, same with people cutting me off without signalling or when there's very little space in front forcing me to brake. I can just shake my head and move on.
But when they all happened repeatedly in a single trip adding traffic lights that seem to keep turning red when you approach them and cyclists that ride on the road leisurely, that tends to stretch my patience a bit.
I'm not a saint and I think even saints will start swearing if they drive in Sydney.

Smart us | 31 Jan 2012 23:26

dave spot on :-/ i just got crashed by motorist who was 20km under limit in 60km zone - then 20km over limit in School zone - and then he hit'n'run when who took me from the side (blind spot)... i took a pic - aami paid for it and coppers are onto his back for Serious Traffic offence and charged for hit'n'run :p

Smart us | 31 Jan 2012 23:29

yeah and im road raging - please give asian/indian drivers extra hours to not stop on the roundabout when its empty - Its not a farking Stop sign!!!! and Cancel L platers - only in pro cars... they endangering everyone with skills of 5yo

Smart us | 31 Jan 2012 23:31

just the other day - in Castle Hill shopping centre on Victoria road - the asian lady driver was taking a U-Turn on the Pedestrian Crossing - blocking both ways and pedestrians!!! everyone was like - "is this for real" - yeah we had to get satisfied with "Im so SORRY"